Bottle-washing machine



lJuly 31, 192s. 1,678,781

J. w. LADD ET A1.

BOTTLE 4WASHING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNE Y.

July 31,1928.

J. w. LADD r-:T A1.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1|A lllll'l o A TTORNEY.

5 sheets-sheen J' J. w. LADD ET AL BOTTLE WASHINGMACHINE Filed Maron 18, 1927 f July 31, 192s.

Patented July 31, 1928.

1 JNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. LADD, HENRY B. WILLIAMS, AND CARL C. JORDAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO JOHN W. LADD COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE.

Application led March 18, 1927. Serial No. 176,350.

This invention relates to bottle washing machines particularly adapted for washing and sterilizing milk bottles,y

One oit the particular objects of the 1nvention is to provide a machine for washing and sterilizing milk bottles inv which. the manual opening and closing of the valves by .the'operator is unnecessary. Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of th-e character described in which the only manual operation necessary is the positioning of the case-.s containing the milk bottles in the machine and the removal` of the cases after the bottles have been washed and sterilized.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a bottle washing machine in which the positioning of the casecontaining the bottles in the machine operates the necessary valves 'for washing and sterilizing the bottles and the withdrawal of the lcase, from the `,machine prepares the machine for the suc-' ceeding washing and sterilizing operation.

Another object of t-he invention is to provide albottle washing machine in which the bottles are iirst washed in a mixture of water and steam and are finally sterilized with saturated steam.

These objects and the several novel :tea-

tuies of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preerred form or 'construction by'. which these objects are attained is shown inthe accompanying drawings in which- A `Fig. 1 is a section through a portion of a bottle washing machine before the bottle case is inserted therein.

Fig. 2 is a similar section through the machineafter-the bottle case has been inserted therein. l

Fig. 3 is a section through the entire machine showing the bottle case partially in-v serted therein.

Fig. 4 yis a The machine comprises a table 1 supported on the frame members 2 as shown in Fig. 3 and this table is provided with tracks 3 on which the bottle cases 4 may be moved into the hood 5 which is positoned over the tracks 3. The cases 4 are open at the top section taken on line 4-4 of `is leit open over the spray head 8.

the bottles are in the position shown in Fig. n

2. As shown in Fig. 2 a steam pipey 10 is provided having a valve 11 therein. When the valve 11 is opened .the steam iiows through the pipe 10 and throughA the ejector 12. Two tanks are provided. a lower tank 13 and an upper tank 14. When the tank 13 is full of water, as shown in Fig. 1, the water fills the ejector 12 and the steam passing from the jet 15 to the venturi 16 carries water through the venturi yfrom the ejector housing and this waterand Asteam mixture passes upwardly through lthe pipe 17 and through the jets 9 'in the spray head 8 and is sprayed into the bottles 6 as will be understood from Fig. 2. A small pipe 18 discharges cold water into the body of the ejector 12 in a small steady stream from a suitable source of water supply. This cold water aids in the operation of the ejector and is carried into the pipe 17 with the water from the tank 13. The steam and water mixture is sprayed up into the bottles as shown in Fig. 2 and the water falls back into the upper tank 14. The upper tank 14 discharges into the lower tank 13 through an outlet 19`adapted to be closed by a weighted Y' valve 20.` A rod 21 is provided having a hook end 22 which is connected to the valve 20 andthe rod 21 at the upper end extends through an arm 23 and is provided with a nut 24 on the upper end thereof preventing withdrawal of the rod 21 from the arm 22. The arm 23 is'securedl to a rotatable horizontal rod or shaft 25 and an actuating arm 26 is also secured to this rod. When the case 4 is moved to vthe position shown in Fig. 2 it turns the'actuating arm 26 which turns the arm 23 to raise the valve 2O to the closed position shown. Upon withdrawal of the case the valve due to its ownv weight falls to the position shown in Fig. 1 which allows into the lower tank13. The downward movement of the valve 20 turns the arm 26 .washing machine.

upwardly in position to be depressed by the next case of bottles moved into the bottle An actuating arm 27 shown in Fig. 1 also extends into the path of movement of the bottle cases. Tliis arm 27 is pivotally connected to an arm 28 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a bracket 29 secured to the frame of the machine. As the case is moved into the hood 5 as shown in Fig. 3 it engages the actuating arms 26 and 27 and as it is moved further into the machine it turns the arm 26 to close the valve 2O andthe actuating arm 27 turns the arm 28 on its pivot as shown in Fig.

2; An arm 30 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 31 secured to the steam valve 11 and ythe opposite end ot the arm 30'is pivoted on the pivot 32 for the arm 27. As the arm 27 is moved to the left ot Fig. 2 the arm 3() is turned on. its pivot 31 causing the end 33 of thev arm 30 to depress the stem 34 of the steam valve 11 and thus open the steam valve. At this time kthe steam passes through `the ejector 12 which carries the water from the lower tank 13 with the steam, the water vbeing thus heated by the steam and sprayed into the bottles are hereinbefore described in order to wash the bottles. This washing` operation continues until all of the water from the lower tank 13 is discharged at which time steam flows thru the pipe 17 with which the small quantity of water discharging into the ejector from the pipe 18 providing saturated steam for sterilizing. When the-sterilizing process is completed the operator draws the handle 35 to the Vright of 3 which turns the arm 28 on its pivot and causes the arm 27 to eject the case 4 containing the bottles from the hood and at the same time the movement of the arm' 28 turns the arm 30 to allow the steam valve 11 .to close. As the case is withdrawn by hand from this point the weighted valve 2O drops to the positon shown in Fig. 1 allowing the accumulated wash water in the upper tank 14 to pass into the lower tank 13. an overflow 36 being provided to carry oi any excess water. As ya new case is moved into the machine the valve 20 is again closed by turning of the actuating arm 26 and the subsequent movement of the arm 27 again opens the steam valve 11 to allow the rinsing and sterilizing operation to repeat. ItV will thus be seen that itis only necessary for the `operator to .move the cases containing the bottles into the machine and to eject the `cases from the machine by pulling` the handle 35, the operations of washing and sterilizing the bottles being entirely automatic.

It is evident from the foregoing that a particular feature of this invention is in the provision of a tank 14 in which the rinse water discharged from the header 8 accumulates during the rinsing operation, and that,l

upon completion of the rinsing operation and removal of the bottle case from position over the header, the accumulated rinse water a spray head. Steam ejectors in general are y i adapted to discharge cold water commingled with the steam for the reason that the cold water continuously causes condensation of steam in the ejector resulting in partial vacuum which draws the watei into the ejector. We have devised an arrangement of parts whereby water having a temperatui'e as high as 180 degrees will be caused to flow readily through the ejector. This is accomplished by the provision of the coldL water pipe 18 discharging into the outlet of the second tank containing the hot rinse wat-ei'. This tank. as heretofore described, is provided with an overflow 36 in order that a predetermined `volume of water is always in readiness for the rinsing and sterilizing operation. With the cold water discharging into the outlet continuously in small quantity, the ejector 12 is cooled so that, on the opening of the steam valve and flow of steam into, the ejector, condensation will take place and the ejector will function tov draw the comparatively yhot water from the tank 13. The quantity of water flowing through the pipe 18 is small and has a double purpose-that is, not only to cool the ejector by discharging the water into thev outlet line of the tank 13 but to also replenish the rinse water. By this is meant that the rinse water is kept fairly clear by continual introduction of fresh clear water thereinto causing discharge of water from the tank 13 through the overflow 36. Thus approximately as rapidly as the water deteriorates through the rinsing operatiom fresh water is supplied.

This result is possible due to the fact that the bottles have been washed previous to the rinsing operation and therefore the greater part of the deleterious matter has been removed and the contamination of the water through the rinsing operation is comparatively slight. Therefore the iowl of cold water through the pipe 18 need oiilvbe small in volume per unit of time to maintain the rinse water approximately clear.

From the foregoing description it becomes lill evident that thevdevice is very simple and eiiicient in operation, will not easily get out of order, is practically automatic in operation, and provides a device which accomplishes the objects described.

Having thus fully described our invention, its utility and mode of operation, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is j l. In a bottle washing machine, an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir adapted to contain a definite amount of water, a track over the upper reservoir by means of which a case containing bottles in inverted position may be mo-ved over the upper reservoir, a spray head having a multiplicity of jets correspending to the number of bottles in the case and adapted to discharge into the bottles, a steam operated ejector adapted to withdraw the water from the lower reservoir and discharge it through the j ets of the spray head, a valve for controlling liow of steam to the ejector, a. control member for the said valve adapted to be actuated by the case to open the valve as the case is moved into posit-ion over the spray head, the upper reservoir providing a receptacle for the water Yfalling from the bottles and having an outlet discharging into the lower reservoir, a valve controlling the said outlet and an actuating member for the said valve adapted to be engaged by the bottle case, the arrangement being such that as the case is moved to position over the spray head the steam '1 valve is opened and the outlet valve is closed and upon withdrawal of the case the outlet valve is opened. Y

2. In a bottle washing machine, an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir adapted to contain a definite amount of water, a steam operated ejector adapted to withdraw water from the lower reservoir, a spray head over the upper reservoir having a multiplicity of jets through which thefwater is discharged from the lower reservoir by the ejector, a case containing a series of bottles in inverted position adapted to be positioned over the spray head with the mouths of the bot.

ties registering over the jets, a valve controlling flow of steam through t-he ejector, an actuating member for opening'the said valve operated by the positioning` of the case over the spray head, the upper reservoir providing a receptacle for the water falling from the bottles and having an outlet discharging into 'the lower reservoir, a valve controlling the said outlet, an actuating member for the said valve adapted to bev operated by positioning the case over the spray head to close the valve, the valve being adapted to automatically vopen upon removal of t-he case.

3. In a bottle washing machine, an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir adapted to contain a definite amount of water, a track over the upper reservoir by means of which a case containing bottles 'in inverted position may be moved over the upper reservoir, a spray head having a multiplicity of jetscorresponding to the number of bottles in the case and adapted to discharge into the botties, a steam operated ejector adapted to withdraw the water from the lower reservoir and discharge it through the jets of the spray head, a steam pipe leading to the ejector, a valve in the steam pipe, a control member for the said valve adapted to be actuated by the case to open the valve as the caseis'moved into position over the spray head, manually operable means for moving the valve control member to move the case out of the machine,.said movement oi the Valve control member closing the steam valve. 4 i

4, In a bottle washing machine, an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir adapted to contain a delinite amount of water, the upper reservoir having an outlet discharging into the lower reservoir, a valve 'controlling the said outlet, an actuating member for the said valve, a spray head, a case containing bottles in inverted position adapted to position over the spray head engaging the actuating member to close the said valve, a steam ejector adapted to withdraw the water from the lower reservoir and discharge it through the spray head into the bottles, the water from the spray head and bottles falling into the upper reservoir, the arrangement being such 'that removal of the case from the spray head disenga-ges the actuating member to allow the .said valve to open and allow the water to return from the upper to the lower reservoir.

5. In a bottle washing machine, an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir adapted to contain a delinite amount of water, guide means over the upper tanlr by means olif which a case containing bottles may be moved thereover, a spray head having a multiplicity or jets corresponding to the number of bottles in the case, the case being adapted to be positioned on t-he guide inea-ns with the bottles in inverted position over the jet-s, a steam operated ejector adapted to withdraw the water from the lower reservoir and discharge it through the jets of the spray head, the upper reservoir providing a receptacle for the water falling from the bottles and having an outlet discharging into the lower reservoir, and a valve controlling` the said outlet adapted to be closed by movement of the case over the spray head and opened by withdrawal of the case therefrom.

6. In a bottle washing machine, an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir adapted to contain a definite amount of water, the upper reservoir having an outlet discharging into the lower reservoir, a spray head, a steam operated ejector adapted to withdraw the lll fil)

water from the lower` reservoir and discharge it through the spray head, a cold water pipe adapted to constantly discharge a small stream of cold water into the ejector, a case containing bottles in Vinverted position adapted to be positioned over the spray head, the 'upper reservoir providing a receptacle or the water discharged from the spray head, a valve controlling flow through the outlet in the upper reservoir, and means for closing the valve actuated by the case in positioning the same over the spray head.

7 .Y In a bottle washing machine, an upper reservoir, a lower reservoir adapted to contain a denite amount ot water, the upper reservoir having` an outlet diffcharging into the lower reservoir, a spray head, a steam operated ejector adapted to withdraw the water from the lower reservoir l and `discharge it through the spray head, a case containing bottles in inverted position adapted to be positioned over the spray head, the upper reservoir providing a receptacle for the discharged Water from the spray head, a valve contro-lling lioiv through the outlet of the upper reservoir, and rvalve operating1 means for closing the valve actuated by positioning the case over the spray head, the valvevbeing adapted to automatically open upon removal ot the caio.

8. In apparatus oi the character described, a rinsing and sterilizing header, means 4jor supporting a case of bott-les thcreover, a tank surrounding the heade and into which. rinse water discharged from the header accumulates, a second tank, there being an aperture in the wall of the irst tank opening into the second tank through which rinse water may be discharged from the iirstto the ,second tank, means for closing the said aperture whereby the rinse water is retained in the irst tank, a steam line for the said header, an ejector in the said line, an outlet tor the second tank leading to the ejector, a cold water supply conduit discharging into the said second tank outlet wherein cold water in a limited quantity is caused to flow into the ejector, an overtlow for the said second tank whereby the volume of water Contained in the second tank is limited in quantity, a valve in the steam line through opening or which the ejector' operates4 to withdraw the water :trom the second tank and discharge it into the header and then steam only flows to the header, and means for opening the valve in the first tank outlet through removal ot' the bottle case from position over the header.

S). ln apparatus of the character described, a rinse water and steam header, means 'for suj'iporting a case of bottles thereovei', a tank into which the rinse water discharges through the header accumulates, a second tank, there being an outlet from the lirst lank into the second tank, a valve controlling the same, a steam line for theheader, an ejector in the line, an outlet for the second tank discharging into the ejector, an overflow for the second tank whereby only a limited quantity of water may be maintained in the second tank, a cold waterlinc leading into the second tank where-by the ejector' is cooled through continual flow oit cold water thereto in a limited quantity and between operations of the header tends to accumulate in the second tank and thereby maintains the rinse water therein. approximately clear, a valve in the steam line, lthe passing ol steam through the ejector operatingl to withdraw the Water from the second tank discharging the same commingled with steam through the header and, upon exhaustion ot supply oi' the tank, steam and a negligible quantity is discharged through the header for sterilizingthe bottles subsequent to the rin-sing operati on.

10. In a machine for washing bottles and the like, a spray head over which a case containing articles to he washed may be positioned, a receptacle into which the wash water discharged through the spray head may be. accumulated, a second receptacle into which the accumulated water of the first receptacle may be discharged, a. steam line, av steam operated ejectorl in the steam line adapted to withdraw water from the second reservoir and discharge it through the spray head and to eject steam through the spray head upon exhaustion of the water supply of the second reservoir, means controlled by the positioning of the case over the spray head for opening the steam line to the ejector and to automatically close the same throughwithdrawal or' the case from washing position, and means operated by the positioning of the case over the spray head to prevent flow of water from. the tirst to the second reservoir and to permit such flow upon removal of the bottle case.

l1. In a machine for washing bottles and the like, a spray head over which a case containing articles to be washed may be posi- ,tioned, a receptacle into which the wash water discharged through the spray head may be accumulated, a second receptacle into which the accumulated water of the first receptacle may be discharged, a steam line, a steam operated ejector in the steam line adapted upon flow of the steam thereinto to withdraw the water from the second receptacle and discharge the samevthrough the spray head and to eject'steam to the .Spray head upon exhaustion of the water in the second reservoir, a cold water supply providing for a continual flow of cold water into the ejector in quantity per unit of time less than the inlet capacity of the ejector, an overflow pipe in the second receptacle whereby a predetermined quantity of the water may be retained in the second receptacle and Alao whereby the continual flow of the cold water to the ejector causes continual flow of contaminated Wash Water from the surface of the Water in the second receptacle, means actuated by the positioning o a case over the spray head to open the steam line and thereby cause operation of the ejector and Withdrawal of the accumulated water of the second receptacle to discharge through the spray head, and means operated by the positioning of a case over the spray head to retain the Water discharged through the spray head in the first receptacle, said means operating upon Withdrawal of the case to cause the'accumulated Water of the irst receptacle to discharge to the second receptacle.

In testimony whereof We sign this speciication.

JOHN W. LADD. HENRY B. WILLIAMS. CARL C. JORDAN. 

